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Examples Of Myrtle In The Great Gatsby

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In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, The American dream is defined as someone starting off low in society and working hard to achieve wealth, fame, and prosperity. This dream symbolizes the desire to attain a luxurious house, car and even a perfect marriage if one is diligent enough. It is represented by the idea of a self-sufficient man or woman who is determined to achieve a goal to become more successful. However, the American Dream is an illusion that only leads to corruption in the pursuit of social mobility. In the beginning of the novel, the desire to live a luxurious is what cause Myrtle Wilson, a mistress who wants more in life and decides to cheat on her husband George Wilson. Myrtle possesses a strong vitality …show more content…

Myrtle is not one of those people but desires to be one of them. When she was out in New York with Tom she bought a copy of Town Tattle, a gossip magazine which represents her hope for the life of “the rich and famous”. This depicts that she wants to be with Tom because he represents the life of the rich and famous. So, when she chose to marry George, she believed that she was crazy about him, but once she “knew right away [she] made a mistake. [George] borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in…” (Fitzgerald 35). Myrtle is a materialistic person and she did not appreciate that George could not purchase his own suit. Instead, he had to borrow someones to get married in. Unlike George, Myrtle is not only attracted to his appearance but his money as well. Myrtle favors Tom because she knows he can not just one suit but millions. She believes that Tom is the ideal picture perfect man that represents the advertisement of the American Dream. Also, Myrtle is not satisfied with the class she was born in, so she hangs out with Tom so she can feel as if she is in a higher class. When Myrtle changed into her “mask” she “was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream colored chiffon” (Fitzgerald 34). …show more content…

During dinner at the Buchanan Tom, Daisy, Jordan, Daisy’s friend and Nick were interrupted because Tom got a call from some women, and Jordan informs Nick that Tom is sleeping with “some woman in New York” and that “she might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner-time” (Fitzgerald 18). Throughout the novel, Tom and Daisy’s relationship is not an ideal relationship. As the four were talking Daisy brings the attention to her pinky and how “the knuckle was black and blue” and how “[Tom] did it... [even though she knew [ he] didn’t mean to but [he] DID do it (Fitzgerald 15). Tom is abusive to her and does not care that much about her since he broke her finger and is cheating on her. Daisy believes that she has everything wealth, love, and happiness which all ties into the American Dream. She eventually discovers that she has nothing and has been corrupted by that very dream. When she gave birth to her baby girl she “ [hopes her baby will] be a fool” also “that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 20). Daisy basically explained that there are limited possibles for women and that she rather have a boy. During the 1920’s women did not marry for love so to speak, instead, they married to have wealth and a reputation. The baby

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853 Words | 4 Pages

wilson's love for myrtle is very real, but her love for him isn't, she takes him for granted because he lives in valley of ashes and because he's a greasy mechanic. for an example early in the book when tom takes Nick carraway to the valley of ashes to see Mr. Wilson he ends up seeing Myrtle who he originally planned to see and while Mr.wilson's goes to get drinks she secretly talks to tom about the affair and moving together in an apartment in new york. She’s taking him for granted because he is oblivious to what's going on. Even though they are both lower class she feels that she is better than him, and thinks she can do anything behind his back because he doesn't know better, she doesn't love him. In chapter 2 Myrtle stated that “ married him because I thought he was a gentleman...

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1279 Words | 6 Pages

Once Tom, his mistress and Nick reached the apartment, Myrtle “had changed her dress to a brown figured muslin” (Fitzgerald 31). Finally, “Mrs. Wilson had changed her costume [...] and was now attired in an elaborate afternoon dress of cream-coloured chiffon” (Fitzgerald 35). Notably, Daisy’s delicate demeanour reflects her quiet and calming nature. Daisy’s fluttering dress makes her seem as if she had been blown away in the wind; she is light, elegant and fragile. On the other hand, Myrtle wears a lot of colourful items, which is associated with her bold, forceful and strong personality.

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966 Words | 4 Pages

The Moral Decay of the Materialistic Although F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby debuted in 1925– before the Great Depression– it serves as a prophetic exemplification of the the material excess of the 1920s that drowned out signs of the coming Great Depression. The book’s plot follows the bootlegger Jay Gatsby as he pursues his old love Daisy Buchanan through flaunting his new extravagant lifestyle, mainly by throwing ostentatious parties. Yet, in the end, Daisy chooses her unfaithful husband Tom over Gatsby. Through Fitzgerald’s use of wealthy, materialistic characters, he comments on the effect of the material excess of the roaring twenties: moral corruption.

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1188 Words | 5 Pages

Some may use Gatsby’s case to argue that a person can change their social class and achieve great amounts of wealth, however Myrtle, never tried to work hard for what she wanted. Unlike Gatsby, Myrtle simply wanted one man, Tom, to do all the work for her. From buying her things, to taking her places, Myrtle made Tom do all the work for her. Myrtle would even call Tom’s phone late at night as stated on page twenty when Jordan told Nick, “Tom’s got some girl in New York… She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner time.”

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451 Words | 2 Pages

Myrtle Wilson, a vulgar, shallow, uneducated woman in her mid thirties, from the Valley of Ashes, is an individual who judges by appearance. Within the first two chapters of the novel, she portrays herself as a woman who finds pleasure through money and materialistic things. On her first meeting with Tom Buchannan during her trip to New York, Myrtle's eyes merely attract Tom's "dress suit," rather than the attires the other passengers in the train are wearing. Considering the look of Tom's clothing, Myrtle judges by appearance and makes the assumption of him being very rich, wealthy, and of high ranking position. Men typically attire in dress suits on formal occasions or when they care about their quality of dressing.

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851 Words | 4 Pages

Some may say that this cheating on Mr.Wilson is a rather selfish thing to do. But in my opinion, it is Myrtle exercising the value of individuality. Myrtle is unhappy with where she is and who she is with. So, she attempts to change it by getting what she wants, despite the fact that society obviously would not agree to

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696 Words | 3 Pages

Myrtle Wilson’s husband is named George Wilson, unfortunately, she is miserable being married with him. She is having an affair with Tom, “There is always a halt there of at least a minute and it was because of this that I first met Tom Buchanan’s mistress.” (Fitzgerald ## ) Nick Carraway implies that Myrtle is having an affair with Tom. Myrtle married George Wilson because she thought that he had money so she married him, later she discovered that he is not wealthy and married Myrtle with a borrowed suit. She feels better that she cheats on him with Tom Buchanan.

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792 Words | 4 Pages

The impact of socioeconomic status can be examined through a myriad of lenses. F. Scott Fitzgerald aims to show the relationship between socioeconomic status and power. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Tom’s character shows that socioeconomic status is equivalent to power within the novel. Tom puts great pride and emphasis on his socioeconomic status and wealth.

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573 Words | 3 Pages

Myrtle’s character is fascinating because of her sexuality, which would not have been frowned upon as much if the Great Gatsby took place in later years. An example of this is when Myrtle describes when she first meets Tom. “When we came into the station he was next to me, and his white shirt-front pressed against my arm, and so I told him I'd have to call a policeman, but he knew I lied. I was so excited that when I got into a taxi with him I didn't hardly know I wasn't getting into a subway train. All I kept thinking about, over and over, was 'You can't live forever; you can't live forever.’”

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1109 Words | 5 Pages

The ever-hopeful end result of pursuing the American dream is the aspiration of achieving a substantial amount of money and successfully building the white picket fence. Many talk about the famous accounts of successful dream chasers, however, hidden under their feet are countless Americans anxiously waiting to climb up the ladder. In contrast, several get caught up on earthly desires believing it will lead them to eternal satisfaction, but often, it decides their own fate. In The Great Gatsby, American author F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the tragedy found within numerous characters. This novel reveals all social classes striving to achieve the American dream, showing how even the most wealthy struggle to live an authentic, happy life.

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1757 Words | 8 Pages

While new money became more common, the perfect American became an unachievable mixture of old money and new money characteristics. Because transcendence has become unreachable, it is scorned in The Great Gatsby through a corruption of common transcendentalism imagery. While hardworking industrialists worked hard to transcend and earn their pace, those born rich kept their wealth, having already transcended society. When one attempts to use the American Dream to rise socially, their lack of birthright to wealth leads to mockery. When one attempts to forgo social transcendence and utilize hard work to transcend intellectually, they are mocked for their lack of understanding surrounding modern America.

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951 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout The Great Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson desired to fit in with the upper class; however, her marriage to George Wilson prevented such from occurring. Myrtle failed to recognize her husband’s hard work and true character due to her efforts to rise in social status. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald emphasized Myrtle’s hatred towards her marriage through her conversation with Catherine, depicting how people of the twenties focused more on wealth and power compared to moral American values. As readers closely evaluate the moment of Myrtle’s dialogue, she dictated her feelings towards her marriage in a way that supposedly justified her infidelity.

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660 Words | 3 Pages

The novel The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitz Gerald embodies many themes. A major in the story is the pursuit of can be labelled the American Dream. The American Dream is defined as someone starting low on the economic or social level, and working hard towards prosperity and or wealth and fame. By having money, a car, a big house, nice clothes and a happy family symbolizes the American dream. The Great Gatsby shows what happened to the American Dream in the 1920’s, which is a time period when the dreams became corrupted for many reasons.

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1010 Words | 5 Pages

Tom’s desire for Myrtle has compromised any moral values he may have had, but also serves to show that he and Myrtle were truly made for each other. While Tom is using Myrtle to stifle his desire, Myrtle is using Tom to achieve her desire of entering into the upper class, even if that means sacrificing her morals by cheating on her

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1149 Words | 5 Pages

Just like Daisy, Myrtle chooses money over love. She cheats on her husband George with Tom. Myrtle was a woman from the lower class who desired to be a part of the higher class. Tom spoiled Myrtle and gave her the lifestyle she always wanted. She belittles her husband and talk bad about him because he is not at the top of the social ladder where Tom is.

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